Communicating via a network using a universal network driver interface is disclosed. It is determined whether a universal network device interface (UNDI) driver is installed. A UNDI driver is scanned for if it is determined that no UNDI driver is installed. In the event a UNDI driver is found, a PCI network device that is associated with the UNDI driver is scanned for. If a PCI network device associated with the UNDI driver is found, the UNDI driver is loaded and initialized for the PCI network device.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for communicating via a network, comprising: determining subsequent to a local boot into a DOS environment whether a universal network device interface (UNDI) driver is installed; if it is determined that no UNDI driver is installed, scanning for a UNDI driver; in the event a UNDI driver is found, scanning for a PCI network device that is associated with the UNDI driver; if a PCI network device associated with the UNDI driver is found, loading and initializing the UNDI driver for the PCI network device; and configuring a second driver to convert DOS network API calls to the UNDI driver and provide converted calls to the UNDI driver; whereby the UNDI driver is installed and started without requiring a network boot and thereby becomes available to be used to provide network services to an application or other processes.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein in the event a plurality of UNDI drivers are found, scanning for a PCI network device includes scanning for a PCI network device associated with a selected one of the plurality of UNDI drivers.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the selected one of the plurality of UNDI drivers is the one found first.
4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the selected one of the plurality of UNDI drivers is one selected by a user to be used.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein scanning for a UNDI driver includes scanning for a UNDI option ROM.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein scanning for a UNDI driver includes scanning system ROM for a UNDI option ROM.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein scanning for a UNDI driver includes scanning an installed PCI network card for a valid UNDI expansion ROM via the PCI programming interface.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second network driver comprises a packet driver.
9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second network driver comprises a NDIS driver.
10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second driver is a packet driver, further comprising: installing the second packet driver.
11. A system for communicating via a network, comprising: a processor configured to: determine subsequent to a local boot into a DOS environment whether a universal network device interface (UNDI) driver is installed; scan for a UNDI driver if it is determined that no UNDI driver is installed; in the event a UNDI driver is found, scan for a PCI network device that is associated with the UNDI driver; if a PCI network device associated with the UNDI driver is found, load and initialize the UNDI driver for the PCI network device; and configure a second driver to convert DOS network API calls to the UNDI driver and provide converted calls to the UNDI driver; and a memory configured to provide instructions to the processor; whereby the UNDI driver is installed and started without requiring a network boot and thereby becomes available to be used to provide network services to an application or other processes.
12. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein in the event a plurality of UNDI drivers are found, the processor is configured to scan for a PCI network device associated with a selected one of the plurality of UNDI drivers.
13. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to scan for a UNDI driver by scanning for a UNDI option ROM.
14. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to scan for a UNDI driver by scanning system ROM for a UNDI option ROM.
15. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to scan for a UNDI driver by scanning an installed PCI network card for a valid UNDI expansion ROM via the PCI programming interface.
16. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second driver is a packet driver, wherein the processor is further configured to: install the second packet driver.
17. A computer program product for communicating via a network, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for: determining subsequent to a local boot into a DOS environment whether a universal network device interface (UNDI) driver is installed; if it is determined that no UNDI driver is installed, scanning for a UNDI driver; in the event a UNDI driver is found, scanning for a PCI network device that is associated with the UNDI driver; if a PCI network device associated with the UNDI driver is found, loading and initializing the UNDI driver for the PCI network device; and configuring a second driver to convert DOS network API calls to the UNDI driver and provide converted calls to the UNDI driver; whereby the UNDI driver is installed and started without requiring a network boot and thereby becomes available to be used to provide network services to an application or other processes.
18. The computer program product as recited in claim 17 , wherein in the event a plurality of UNDI drivers are found, scanning for a PCI network device includes scanning for a PCI network device associated with a selected one of the plurality of UNDI drivers.
19. The computer program product as recited in claim 17 , wherein scanning for a UNDI driver includes scanning for a UNDI option ROM.
20. The computer program product as recited in claim 17 , wherein scanning for a UNDI driver includes scanning system ROM for a UNDI option ROM.
21. The computer program product as recited in claim 17 , wherein scanning for a UNDI driver includes scanning an installed PCI network card for a valid UNDI expansion ROM via the PCI programming interface.
22. The computer program product as recited in claim 17 , wherein the second driver is a packet driver, further comprising computer instructions for: installing the second packet driver.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 31, 2005
May 25, 2010
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